Averaging career-highs in 3PM (3.7) and 3P% (40.5), Mitchell has been instrumental to the Cavaliers (24-4) sustaining the most effective file within the league after they received off to the tied second-best start (15-0) in historical past.
Regardless of having fun with a profession 12 months, Mitchell doesn’t function prominently within the NBA’s MVP dialog. On Friday, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps launched his newest NBA MVP straw ballot that quizzed 100 media members to vote for his or her MVP on the present juncture of the season. As with the NBA’s official voting course of, voters have been requested to submit a five-player poll, with the outcomes being tabulated utilizing the league’s scoring system of 10 factors for first place, seven for second, 5 for third, three for fourth and some extent for the fifth-place vote.
Amazingly, Mitchell landed in sixth place behind chief Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic. He acquired zero first- or second-place votes however received one third-place vote to go along with six and 7 fourth and fifth-place votes, respectively. Total, he received 30 votes, practically 100 fewer than Doncic.
“Mitchell’s MVP case facilities on being the most effective participant on the most effective staff. However regardless of Cleveland’s NBA-best 23-4 [24-4] begin, the guard sits in sixth,” Bontemps wrote of Mitchell’s lack of votes.
It is the latest occasion of the media disrespecting Mitchell and treating him like an afterthought. The athletic guard was additionally snubbed from Workforce USA’s 12-man Paris Olympics roster, making him the participant with the second-most career points within the decade who has by no means made the nationwide staff.
One wonders if Mitchell will use the fixed disrespect as gas to additional construct on the Cavaliers’ historic season. If the franchise wins 60-plus video games, which it’s on tempo to do, Mitchell ought to be a candidate to assert one of many spots within the All-NBA First Workforce. Nonetheless, if historical past is any indicator, he’ll seemingly land on the second or third staff.
Maybe Mitchell may have the final snort if the Cavaliers make a deep postseason run and even win all of it. According to ESPNBet, they at present have the fourth-shortest odds (+1300) to win the championship.
